Movement, Kabbalah, Community

Lighten your heart, tap into your wellspring of inner peace—or just have a fantastic adventure—at our Dance into Ancient Wisdom retreat! In a magical setting in Tuscany, you’ll cultivate the deep wisdom of your own body and explore the Kabbalah (Jewish mystical) Tree of Life. You’ll experience joyful body-mind-spirit classes and prompts for reflection and creative expression. Discover how this ancient way of knowing will enrich your life. 

And have fun! You'll feast on locally sourced meals prepared by our private chef, accompanied by lively conversation and laughter. We believe in the sacred power of play to open the mind to new perspectives and build community! There will also be ample contemplative, restorative time to relax in the spa and rainwater pool, take walks in the stunning setting, and, in the words of poet Mary Oliver, “let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”

"I left the retreat with a much, much lighter heart and with my soul and spirit restored and reenergized."

                                                                                  Denise

Beautiful setting, wonderful accommodations, delicious food and wine. Gracious hosts. ... I loved the movement and the instructors, both Janice and Kriszti were fabulous. The mix of dance and other activities was just right. The group was welcoming and supportive.

Debra

Janice Steinberg: Dancing in community is my holy place, where I can practice sacred play and reciprocity; where I feel renewed; where, as a recent widow, I feel held in the waters of grief.

Dance into Ancient Wisdom distills my lifelong search for embodied spirituality. My hunger for somatically centered meaning has led me to many movement forms—including the rich body-mind-spirit practice of Nia, which I've taught since 2008; and it's taken me to a 30-year exploration of Kabbalah. I am also a writer; my latest novel is The Tin Horse. In my retreats, I create an experience of movement and music to embody qualities of the Kabbalah Tree of Life (like justice or awe), then hold space for reflection and deep listening where you can give voice to your stories. 

Kriszti VanSlyke: I began dancing at the age of three in Szolnok, Hungary, training in classical ballet for sixteen years before expanding into modern, jazz, ballroom, salsa, tango, Ballet Folklorico, Brazilian zouk, and over three decades of the Nia Technique. Dance has been my lifelong companion, not only as an art form but as a path of discovery, healing, and growth.

As a person who thrives on connection, I am passionate about cultures, languages, and the ways movement brings us closer to ourselves and to one another. In my retreats, I create welcoming spaces where joy and creativity flourish, and where deep personal transformation can unfold through the shared experience of dance, community, and cultural exploration.

Located 2 hours southeast of Florence, Terzo di Danciano is a small medieval hamlet that has been lovingly restored, retaining the unique character of its history while offering the comforts of a graceful country home.  Known since Roman times for its breathtaking panoramic position, the property is surrounded by serene and pristine nature. 

•  The terraced garden has ancient mulberry and olive trees which are harvested to produce their own cold-pressed olive oil.
•  The swimming pool uses filtered rain water and is surrounded by a sunbathing deck oriented towards the rising sun.
•  The private spa provides a serene place to unwind and offers a large whirlpool bath, Turkish bath, infrared sauna, chromotherapy rain shower, and massage/facial treatments.
•  The elegant bedrooms and living areas are made of natural handcrafted materials decorated with colors that maintain the patina and charm of centuries past.
•  Movement sessions will be held in the spacious theater, which boasts high ceilings, aged wooden floors, bare stone walls and lovely natural light. 

The Main House, a magnificent 16th century construction, has 10 bedrooms with super-comfortable beds and 8 bathrooms. Floors, stairs, plasterwork, paint and vaults have all been renovated to preserve their unique character. Rooms on the upper floors have stunning views of the surrounding countryside, while the ground room floors have direct access to the terrace and garden. High-speed WiFi in all bedrooms and public areas.

Your stay includes three meals/day prepared by Terzo's superb chef from locally sourced ingredients. There will be lovely local wine available for purchase at meals.

Special diets—vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.—can be accommodated as long as the chef receives advance notice. On your registration form, you'll have the chance to list any special dietary needs. 

Luca and Kriszti are your dedicated hosts and the owners of Terzo di Danciano. When they say “your joy is our joy” believe them -  they mean it.  Luca and Kriszti truly love to ensure you and your guests have the most wonderful experience possible, be it a wedding, retreat, celebration, or escape.

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Appropriate for the owner of a villa dating back to before the Renaissance, Luca is an artist himself, whose hand drawings and oil paintings are featured throughout the property. Luca’s refined eye for detail and aesthetics are a wonderful asset in helping you to design the wedding or event of your dreams.

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Kriszti is in many ways, the heart of the villa, going above and beyond to make each guest feel welcome. Kriszti brings her signature blend of warmth, excitement and positive energy to helping plan your stay, events, and off site excursions, with an almost magical knack for making that perfect recommendation.  A dancer by training and an adventurer at heart, Kriszti knows how to make any  moment into a special experience.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance, which covers such things as trip interruption or cancellation, medical care abroad, and emergency medical evacuation. We, as your retreat guides, are purchasing travel insurance for ourselves. 

A friend who does a travel blog (she's also a nurse!) has written a fantastic blog on Demystifying Travel Insurance.  

Some general information on what travel insurance can cover: 

https://www.planetjanettravels.com/demystifying-travel-insurance-what-you-really-need-to-know/

Some options for travel insurance that she recommends are:

• Allianz Travel Insurance
• CSA Travel Protection
• AIG Travel Guard

In addition, there are several online Travel Marketplaces where you can enter your specific information and receive a quote: Squaremouth, Insuremytrip, and travelinsurance.com.

Safety

If you are a U.S. citizen, we recommend that you register your trip with the US State Department. This is an easy process and can be helpful in making it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in a national or international emergency.  

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html   

Health

In the following link you will find helpful information and questions to consider regarding your health and medical coverage while abroad: 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/your-health-abroad.html 

Covid

If Covid is still a problem at the time of the retreat, we recommend you bring two tests with you. And we suggest masking while traveling. Janice finds the Kimberly-Clark N95 quite comfortable, even though it makes her look like a duck.

•  €450 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot. A next payment of  €1000 is due by January 15, 2026. Remaining balance/fees are due no later than March 15, 2026.

•  If you cancel your reservation before March 1, 2026: you will be refunded fees minus your non-refundable deposit.
•  If you cancel your reservation after March 1, 2026: all fees are non-refundable, unless your space can be filled by someone else.

*Bookings made within 40 days before Retreat will require full payment at the time booking.

"I want to be at Terzo with my partner, but they'd like to just hang out during the day rather than participate in retreat sessions."

Your partner is most welcome to come. Both of you need to register at the shared-room rate. 

Your partner will be able to use all Terzo di Danciano amenities such as the pool, spa, etc. Their registration covers all meals, activities, and excursions. And Terzo staff can suggest things to do in the area.

For excursions:

• Charming Italian cities are hilly! And there are cobblestone streets. So make sure to have good walking shoes, and if you like to use a walking stick, bring it!

For our sessions at Terzo:

• Comfortable clothes to move in for a variety of dance explorations.

• We typically dance barefoot, but if you're more comfortable in shoes, it's fine to wear jazz shoes or tennies.

• An object that represents where you are in your spiritual journey, that you can put on our community altar.

• A journal and pen. 

• We'll provide paper and an array of Cray-pas, etc., but if you have favorite art supplies, you may want to bring them.

We will provide a comprehensive packing list upon registration. 

Joyful body-mind-spirit practices and prompts for reflection and creative expression: Movement practices will be adaptable to all levels—it's fine to use a chair.

Exploring beautiful Tuscany: We're doing excursions to Siena and Cortona. 

Chilling! We look forward to relaxing in the spa and pool, taking walks, and feasting on locally sourced meals prepared by a master chef ... accompanied by lively conversation and lots of laughter. 

Yum! There will also be ample contemplative, restorative time, to “let the soft animal of your body love what it loves” (to quote the poet Mary Oliver). 

Plan on laughing a lot! 

Janice fell in love with modern dance in her teens and has been exploring body-mind-spirit practices ever since: modern dance, yoga, tai chi, improvisation, tap, ballet, and authentic movement, as well as a bit of 5 Rhythms and gaga. 

She began teaching Nia in 2009 and holds a Black Belt in this rich dance-lifestyle practice. She founded Nia at Dance Place San Diego, offering in-studio classes for eight years (until the pandemic) and currently teaches four classes/week—three over Zoom and one in-person.

Her interest in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) began in the mid-1990s when she was researching a mystery novel set in Safed, Israel (Death in a City of Mystics, published by Berkley). That began a process of deep study that included having a Bat Mitzvah at age 49, co-leading a women’s New Moon group for several years, and acting as a lay service leader. Her novel The Tin Horse (Random House) dove into the Jewish history of Los Angeles.

She’s woven her love of dance and Jewish practice into movement classes based on the Kabbalah Tree of Life and routines for Jewish holidays.

Judaism has an ancient tradition of exploring hidden meanings in sacred texts and creating mystical practices to commune with the divine. During the Golden Age of 13th century Spain, this body of wisdom developed into Kabbalah—a Hebrew word whose root means "to receive." 

Kabbalah flourished during the 16th century in the city of Safed, Israel. From the  Safed Kabbalists came the concept of sefirot—emanations representing "the flow of energy from the Mind of the Creator into the universe" (Rabbi Yonassan Gershom). The sefirot are qualities like lovingkindness and humility. They're often mapped onto the Tree of Life and  on the human body. For instance, the left shoulder is associated with strength and discernment.

The ten sefirot are:

* Keter / crown: pure energy, similar to the crown chakra

* Hokhmah / wisdom, oceanic consciousness

* Binah / understanding, egoless awareness

* Chesed / lovingkindness, expansiveness, boundless giving
* Gevurah / strength, justice, setting boundaries, discernment
* Tiferet / compassionate heart, beauty, balance of lovingkindness and justice
* Netzach / eternity, endurance, victory—what carries us forward
* Hod / splendor, humility, gratitude
* Yesod / foundation, sexuality, a channel for bringing blessing into the world
* Malchut / physical reality, groundedness; also called Shekinah, the divine feminine

During the seven weeks after Passover (which begins April 12 ), there's a tradition of focusing on the seven lower qualities in a process of spiritual refinement. We'll be dancing the seven lower sefirot in our practice at the retreat.